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If you DO start a band, pick a name with the web in mind! Try
seaching for the Avalanches! |
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Bands
and groups Page
1
Just
a few of the many bands I have heard over the last 40 or so years.
Some have, so to speak fallen by the wayside, some have changed
personnell or even names. There are too many to list here, but if I
know a website link I'll post it here. Should you find one or start
one, let me know about it.
You
will note an absence of the "SAD" acts so prevalent
in the 1999 2000 UK charts. "SAD" you ask? why Song
And Dance, with hardly a
player or a writer in the lineup! They do not count as
Bands for that reason. Steps, Spice girls, SClub 7 etc. are such.
They're even being cloned these days! (Westzone)
I
also reject a lot of the sampling and remix material so loved by the
Dance and Hip Hop / Rap section. There IS
some good Rap, but I draw the line at FRap ( F word rap) and
most of the "Gangsta" Rap which relies too much on
sensation to my mind. The Avalanches, an Australian band are
of merit on the Sample front.
EMINEM,
SLIM SHADY or whoever he is this week seems to be the latest rage or
sell out depending how you look at it. He has too many alter egos for
my liking. Looks a bit like an excuse to rip off to me. Is he
just looking for controversy and little else? His "lyrics"
are hardly Earth shattering, with too much irrelevant "parental
advisory" stuff for my liking!
MOS
DEF has just come to my attention ( Thanks Chris Martin) He
hails from Brooklyn (as Biggie Smalls did) but writes with a broader
background. (see NME Dec 2nd p 31). Lyrics still have advisory
logo I see.
INFLUENTIAL I
intend to detail if I can, some of the people or bands who have
REALLY influenced the music of the last century. It makes me laugh
when I see some of the supposed "influences"
mentioned on UK Teletext and Ceefax.
Sorry, but an artist with a couple of hit singles is no influence.
They are more likely to be a figment of a record company plan!
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The New Bands page was rather full and loaded slowly. A third has
just been added. Page 1 is about to be split into separate band
entries. Incidentally, if YOU have a band, drop me an e.mail and
perhaps a demo CD! |
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Apologies for
the randomness of much of these listings. I may categorise and amend
these later in another place. There is no preferred order in any
page, my comments in each case reflect my opinion of the artist in
question. I have just added separate comments
pages for further notes. |
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Beware the
Radiohead bears! |
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One at least
hides a link. |
167 |
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This page index. In page order. (*) means local artist page too. |
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UK based
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Radiohead
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Very creative musically and a strong influence on a number of other
bands, notably Muse.The
lineup is broader than many bands, which has allowed them a much
wider range of style.The sleeve is the 7" edition of
"Paranoid Android". They appeared at the MELTDOWN festival
in July. Website well worth a visit! Kid A caused considerable
discussion since it was a total change of style (If that's the word) Newsgroup
too. See The Radio 3
website for an interview, including music. |
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Amnesiac |
The "Mixing
It" interview referred to is still on the Radio 3 site. |
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UK based |
Oasis
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Supersonic start in 1994, but seem to have lost their way of late.
Fraternal strife has been a feature, but the pressure of touring has
been substantial (and no doubt rather boring!). The changes in lineup
leave only two original members, the Gallagher brothers. The band has
seemed to stagnate musically but still has a big live following
despite this. |
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Comment 2001 |
There is no
doubt that Oasis made a big impression in the late '90s even if Noel
did get rather a lot of help from John Lennon. There clearly still is
a strong link in that sense musically, even reaching as far as
Magical Mystery Tour and Sgt. Pepper. The band now has new Bass (Andy
Bell) and guitar (Gem of Heavy Stereo) so has a new songwriting
input, since Andy writes well on his own (re Ride
and Hurricane #1) so there should be collaboration. To my mind the
vocal style of Liam is almost a handicap now. He has a somewhat
limited range of approach which can grate a bit over a full album.
Any new album will have to be exceptional. SOTSOG was not earth shattering! |
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UK based, but well away from the capital. |
Coldplay
Have toured the USA recently. Good response. |
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Yellow has at last given the band a major
chart position. Visit the website for the video (realplayer reqd) and
audios from the back catalogue including the excellent "Blue
Room" shown left..Parachutes Album out last year.
Excellent material! Reviews on the newsgroup
Alt Music Coldplay suggest the new songs are very good indeed."Trouble"
is the current single. Sound B sides too! Much critical sniping recently! |
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UK based also known as Verve on early singles. |
The Verve and Richard
Ashcroft. |
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Began as a very individual sound as "Verve" in the early
days, but surged enormously thanks to " Bittersweet
Symphony". The previous album also gave suggestions of the
different style, notably "History" which is a classic
track. Ashcroft's first single was a bit weak in my opinion. Ashcroft
album out. |
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UK based classed as a Madchester band. |
Charlatans
Group page |
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Often compared with the Stone Roses. Tim
Burgess does have a similar stage image to Ian Brown, and to Mark
Gardener of Ride and The Animal House. Musically they are now very
different! The influence of Bob Dylan is currently very strong, (see
NME Dec 2nd.) and musically the band is very versatile. The last
album "Us and Us Only" is excellent. Some recent videos (on
enhanced CD) have been really well done. Look up The
Orange One. |
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UK based On the Creation label at first |
House Of Love
Group page
Creation compilation album out now. |
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A greatly underrated band. They had an enormous tour schedule in
1989-90 which must have taken a lot out of the members. The band
sound is distinctive, as are Guy Chadwick's lyrics and vocals.
"Shine On" remains a classic. "Audience with the
Mind" is a very listenable album. Guy Chadwick has also released
several albums. He is also likely to release new material soon. The
site linked has an extensive discography. |
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UK based On Epic, Statik, Geffen, Imaginary and Glass Pyramid |
The Chameleons
Group page |
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Tony Fletcher walked on Water. Well maybe, but this CD and
12" were limited editions and will set you back a few quid more
than the norm. Mark has always had a very distinctive lyric style,
often controversial. The group are together again and a new album is
out too, with some new songs. See the group page for the latest CD
issue. Another album is now out. |
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UK based |
Lee Griffiths
Artist page later. |
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Singer songwriter with great potential. Brings back memories of Nick
Drake amongst others. The sleeve is the single "Sign of The
Times".His album is out at last. Worth the wait too. Lyrically
the content is along the lines of some Chameleons tracks, with a high
social comment content.A new version of Feeling the Strain is
now on release. Different! (lyrics too!) |
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Australian duo. |
Savage Garden
Current tour was well reviewed. Sadly now disbanded. |
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An unusual choice of name here by two Aussie lads who produce a very
distinctive sound and are strong lyrically and vocally. Affirmation
is the current album.
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American teen band. Write most ot the tracks too. |
Hanson |
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What are they doing here you ask? They show a surprising talent! One
snag though, voice changes as they mature will mean they'll have to
adjust the early hits key wise! Curiously this is the only single
from the latest album. Where are they hiding at the moment? Is it
true that at least one Hanson is getting rather hunkier? Oh yes,
don't mention the Moffatts
too loudly! |
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Critical comments. |
Teletext comment.17th Dec. 2000. To Georgina. No you
are not the only Hanson fan. I think they are great! And
before the mob come out and slaughter me, I'm not a teenybopper.
Teenyboppers listen to manufactured rubbish. Hanson write,
play and produce their own music. How many teenyboppers do that? They
deserve a lot more credit than they get over here Triste. |
